Roy’s big push for an Ashes spot

JASON ROY hopes World Cup success will smooth his pathway to the Ashes. England’s one-day opener began the white-ball leg of the Caribbean tour with a typically belligerent century in the warm-up victory against admittedly modest opposition, the University of West Indies Vice-Chancellor’s XI, here on Sunday. He wants to take that form into the first of five ODIs at the Kensington Oval tomorrow — and beyond. ‘Absolutely,’ said Roy when asked if he could use whiteball success as a launchpad to the Ashes series that follows the World Cup this summer. ‘If that call comes, then happy

days. I’ve just got to work hard and make sure my game is in order if and when I do get that Test call.’ Keaton Jennings, Joe Denly and Roy’s Surrey team-mate Rory Burns have all failed to nail down places as England continue to have top-order problems in Tests. Roy added: ‘It’s not a case of, “Yeah, it’s going to happen” or, “No, it’s not going to”. It’s a case of making sure I’m the best cricketer I can be if that chance comes about.’ Jos Buttler and Adil Rashid

made Test comebacks last summer on the back of white-ball form and selector Ed Smith is never afraid to think radically. Rashid arrived back here having returned home after the first Test in Barbados to be with his wife for the birth of their second child. ‘You want to play but as I wasn’t going to in Antigua it was good of England to give me the chance to go home and support my family,’ said Rashid. The 31-year-old is a key member of England’s white-ball attack but the jury remains out on him as a Test bowler. ‘I’m still a long way off being a world-beater in Test cricket,’ he admitted.